Adebayo passes Bryant for second-most points in an NBA game

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Ladies and gentlemen, we just witnessed the second-best offensive performance in NBA history.

On March 11, 2026, Miami Heat superstar Bam Adebayo did the unthinkable after surpassing Kobe Bryant’s 81-point performance, erupting for 83 points against the Washington Wizards to move to second all time among the NBA’s single-game scoring leaders.

The versatile center capped Miami’s dominant 150-129 victory over the Wizards with 83 points on 20-of-43 shooting from the field, including 36 made free throws and seven 3-pointers.

After already exploding for 31 points in just 12 minutes of action, little did the NBA know that Adebayo was bound for a huge night, passing LeBron James’ franchise record of 61 points through three quarters and fueling his chances of reaching 70, or maybe 80.

As the game progressed in the fourth quarter and Adebayo kept piling up the points, Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra sensed that his star could go for the record, letting him play for the majority of the final frame to chase greatness and rewrite the NBA history books.

Unfortunately, the Wizards played spoiler when they started to double-team Adebayo and foul the other Heat players intentionally, but that did not stop the 28-year-old enforcer from finding his shots and getting to the rim for more free throws.

Everyone who flocked to the Kaseya Center then felt Adebayo could break Bryant’s record when he completed a foul-counted play at the 3:26 mark of the game, increasing his point tally to 77, just five points away from officially claiming the No. 2 spot in the league’s all-time single-game record book.

The impossible became instant reality in the final minute, when Adebayo got fouled for another free-throw opportunity.

After cashing in the first, 82.

Then came the last attempt, history sealed.

Eighty-three big points for Big Bam.

“Coming into this league as a defender and a lob threat, man, I really got emotional,” Adebayo said during the official postgame interview.

“You’ve seen 60, 70, to score 83, and you pass Kobe, my mind was like, what would he say to me? Because I’ve always wanted to have a conversation with him. He’ll probably say, do it again.”

Aside from the single-game scoring performance, Adebayo also shattered several records and now holds the NBA marks for the most free throws made and most free throws attempted in a regular season.

“I appreciate you all,” Adebayo added.

“This is no. 1 for sure. Being able to do it at home makes it even sweeter. I wish I could relive it twice.”